BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team captured a 71-60 win over Howard Payne University Saturday afternoon in Belton. The victory improved the Cru to 19-2 overall and 11-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the Yellow Jackets fell to 7-15 overall and 3-11 in league play.
 
The Yellow Jackets opened the game with a field goal from Kyleigh Mauldin before Remi Adeleke evened the contest with a pair of free throws. Howard Payne took another two-point lead before Alexis Carmosino hit a three-pointer to put the Cru on top. Aja  Holmes hit a layup at the 6:28 mark to put Howard Payne back on the high ground. The Yellow Jackets held that lead until the 2:55 mark when Adeleke hit a jumper to knot the contest at 12. HPU took just one more lead before the Cru defense held them scoreless through the final 2:44 of the quarter for an 18-14 lead.
 
Josie Bruder opened the second quarter with a three-pointer and UMHB held the lead through the frame for a 42-30 second-half margin. UMHB held a single-digit line until the 3:10 mark when Lauren Baker hit a jumper for a double-digit lead.
 
Baker opened the second half with a layup before Alexis Carmosino scored a quick five points for a 49-36 margin. UMHB held onto the double-digit lead, holding the margin by as many as 15 points in the quarter. Anna Beaesderfer cut the gap to single digits with just one second left, hitting a layup for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Tyrnadee Greenwell drained a three-pointer 17 seconds into the fourth quarter to cut UMHB's lead to six points. Remi Adeleke responded with a layup before Carmosino hit a foul shot and Jaycie Brisco made a jumper to extend the gap to 11 points. Howard Payne cut the gap to six again with 3:55 to play but Adeleke hit back-to-back layups to put the Cru back on top by ten. UMHB held on to the double-digit line for the rest of the half, earning the 71-60 win.
 
Remi Adeleke led the Cru with 17 points while Josie Bruder added 15. Alexis Carmosino and Ashley Faux also finished in double-digits with Carmosino recording a double-double with 13 rebounds. UMHB shot 43.5 percent in the contest with Lauren Baker recording a team-high nine assists. UMHB forced 19 turnovers, led by Adeleke with four steals. The Cru scored 28 points in the paint and 24 second chance points with 20 points off the bench and 16 points off turnovers.
 
UMHB returns to action on Thursday, February 8th in a 5:30 p.m. contest at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson.